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While
Jerry Jestin was growing up
in Canada, he was around square dancing a lot. His parents have been
dancing since the early 50's. Early in his life, Jerry played the piano
and sang in many amateur shows. He and his sister Loretta learned to
square dance from Frank Dorward. Frank knew Jerry could sing so he
handed a record to Jerry and told him to practice. Jerry learned the
singing call and has been calling ever since. His first dance was in
1967.

He has
always liked performing. Sometimes he would call duets with his sister.
After a time Jerry felt that he had gone as far as he could in Canada as
a full time caller. He began looking south, across the border. In 1979,
he relocated to Texas, attending Texas A&M University while continuing
to expand his calling career. He majored in Physical Education and
Health.

In
1980, while calling and attending school, he met and married Janice Lee
Graham, whose father was a local caller in San Antonio. Jerry and Janice
moved from College Station, Texas to the Dallas - Fort Worth area where
his home program expanded to cover various levels of square and round
dancing. He then transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington, to
continue his education on a part time basis, where he found time to get
some voice training.

In
1984, Jerry and Janice became the resident square and round dance and
clogging instructors at a RV park in Yuma, Arizona. By 1985, they were
working at two parks, offering a full program for all levels of the
various dances. From 1990-1994, they worked as resident Caller, Cuer,
Directors at Lionshead Resort outside of West Yellowstone, Montana.
During the summer months they taught squares, rounds, and clogging and
coordinated the hiring of guest callers and cuers. When Jerry is not in
Yuma, he travels to other areas in the USA, Europe, Australia, New
Zealand and Canada calling festivals and dances. In the spring and fall,
you will find him working on the family grain farm in Alberta.

He has
recorded on several Square Dance record labels. First on Circle D
Records, releasing "Come Monday". Then on to Riverboat
Records, releasing two patter records and two singing calls, "Listen
to the Music" and "Pictures". Recently Jerry recorded on
Jo-Pat/ESP Records. Where his releases include; "Bummin Around",
"I Don't Hurt Anymore", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "I'll
Come A Runnin' to You", "Next Thing Smokin", "That's My
Story", "Honky Tonk Attitude", "Tall, Tall Trees", "Seminole
Wind", "Shindig in the Barn", "Just Another Polka",
and "Hightech Redneck". He has also made special appearances on
Sting Records – "Cheatin' Heart" and here on Global
Records (see below).

Jerry
and Janice have composed three round dances: "Way Too Sassy", "Memories
Are Made of This", and "Falling Star Rumba".